Great Books on Writing

"The Artist's Way" by: Julia Cameron

"Bird by Bird"

"Writing Shapely Fiction"

"On Writing" by Stephen King

Saturday, March 7, 2009

How to Create a Beach Writing Retreat

First, take a condo or a place with indoor pools that is running one of those $50 or $60 a night specials.Second, take a really cool writing buddy who inspires you and gives great feedback (thank you, Carole)Third, take some really loud rednecks in the floor above you that keep yelling "Hey! I can't hear anything you're saying!!!" off the balcony to someone down on the beach (who obviously can't hear a word they're saying).Fourth, yell back "Woooo yeah!!!!" from your balcony back at the rednecks.Fifth, steps three and four are optional.Most importantly,Take your laptop, pack a lot of magazines, (trade magazines, of course) and bring something to work on during your time there.Sixth, remember that all work and no play does make Jack a dull boy...(no, I'm not channeling the "Shining" here...) go to the indoor pool. Go to the beach. Wrap up in a towel on the beach because even though weatherman said it is going to be 70+ degrees the wind is cold and you don't believe it is really the 68 degrees weather dot com says it is...Seventh, wonder if the cute guy who hit on you at the pool knows that you're a writer, you haven't been hit on since the Clinton administration, and you are going to mention him in this blog.Eighth...work on stuff and set up a designated time for "critiques and coffee" (or cocktails, or whatever...) READ IT OUT LOUD to each other. Be kind. This is not the time to be persnickety...unless the author tells you it is, in which case, go for it. This is just a --yes, right direction or --whoa, don't go that way, buddy....More to come...What happens when two writers take a long weekend to work on some stuff...we'll you'll find out....